Department of Philosophy

92% are satisfied with the teaching on our Philosophy degreesThe Guardian University Guide 2018

Course description

This degree is an excellent way to develop a deeper understanding of religion and theology and the questions they raise. You'll explore the history and meaning of the scriptural texts while reflecting on issues such as human freedom, knowledge, justice, and the claims of religion.

On this course, you can study modules from both philosophy and religion. An equal number of modules may be taken in each subject, or you can choose to focus more on one discipline.

There's an exciting range of philosophy modules on offer, taught by researchers who are experts in their field. You can develop your understanding in the key areas of philosophy, such as ethics, aesthetics, philosophy of mind, theory of knowledge, metaphysics, logic, and philosophy of religion.

We also offer modules on major figures in the history of philosophy, including Aristotle, Plato, Spinoza, Kant, and Hegel. This part of the course is flexible - there are no compulsory philosophy modules so you choose the subjects that interest you most.

First-year religion modules include Philosophy of Religion, Decoding the Old and New Testaments, The World of Early Judaism, Introduction to Islam, Myth, Ritual, and the Afterlife, and Biblical Greek and Hebrew.

In the second and third years, you can start to develop your own specialised interests in religion, theology and the Bible, and philosophy.

The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers.

In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.

Learning and assessment

These figures give an indication of how you'll learn and be assessed. They're a combined average of all the years of the course. The learning and assessment percentages could vary depending on the modules you choose.

Learning

Scheduled teaching

19%

Independent study

81%

Placement

0%

Assessment

Exams/tests

35%

Coursework

64%

Practical

1%

Department of Philosophy

We pride ourselves on our research-led teaching; our staff are among the best in the world at what they do. They're active researchers so your lectures and seminars are informed, relevant and exciting. We'll teach you how to think carefully, analytically and creatively.

The department is a community. We share a belief that our subject is relevant, even vital, to people outside the university. We run sessions on careers, so you're clear how your degree can make you an asset to an employer. Through projects like Philosophy in the City, you'll use what you learn to make a difference in the community.

And we look after each other. You'll get a personal adviser, a member of staff to guide you through your time here. You also have the option of a Philosophy Mentor, a second or third year student to support you during your first year.

What our graduates do

Studying philosophy will develop your ability to analyse and state a case clearly, evaluate arguments and be precise in your thinking. These skills will put you in a strong position when it comes to finding employment or going on to further study.

Our graduates work in teaching, law, social work, computing, the civil service, journalism, paid charity work, business, insurance and accountancy. Many also go on to study philosophy at postgraduate level.

Applicant open days
If you've received an offer to study with us, we'll invite you to one of our applicant open days, which take place between November and April. These open days have a strong department focus and give you the chance to really explore student life here, even if you've visited us before.

Campus tours
Campus tours run regularly throughout the year, at 1pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.